Coal cutting and loading machine



Dec. 18,1923.

F. K. HOLMESTED COAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F.' K. HQLMESTED COAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1920 Dec. 18 W23.

F. HOLMESTED COAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 s e 5 a m M or other containing devices without requirl tlons of opposite sides and in advance of the Patented Dec. 1%, i923,

FBA'NGIS KEITH HOLMESTED, OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

COAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed January 3, 1920. Serial No. 349,210.

T all whom it may 00 667%! Be it known that I, *RANors K. HOLME- s'rED, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal Cutting and Loading Machines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cutting and loading machines particularly adapted for service in mines for cutting andloading coal and other similar materials having a natural veinous, ledge or other accessibleiormation.

The primary object of the invention generally is to provide a comparatively simple machine for expeditiously cutting and loading coal and other materials, and especially to facilitate cutting of coal directly from the face of a coal vein and practically completely gather and accumulate all of the coal cut in a cutting means in such form or condition that it may be easily discharged from the said cutting means and loaded into cars ing the usual tedious and laborious manna cutting, shooting and shoveling practices to be effected.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention which, as shown, comprises a cutting and' loading mechanism conveniently assembled for expeditiously mining coal or other material and requiring actuating attention of but few operators and a comparativelysmall amount of power. The machine as shown, however, should not be understood as a necessary precise organization of elements. or, a machine incapable of variation of the several cooperating components, as it is proposed to adopt all reasonable equivalents and substitutes permissible under the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings 2-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 44:, Figure 2, and looking toward the forward end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55, Figure 2, lookingtoward the rear of the machine.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the cutter, showing the manner of removably securing the cutter teeth therein.

The frame of the machine may be varied indefinitely both structurally and in contour and general dimensions in accordance with the particular application thereof or the physical characteristics of the mine or other place in or adjacent to which it may be disposed for service. As shown, this frame comprises a bed 5 preferably having axles 6 and flanged wheels 7 to run on track rails 8 of the usual mine structure. The truck wheels 7 may be replaced by wheels of any other type, as the machine is not limited in its service to a track rail support, and may be so constructed as to be readily moved from one place to another either inside or outside of a mine. Extending along porfront of the bed 5 is a segmental rack 9 with the teeth at the top thereof, the opposite side portions of this rack being in the form of hinged sections 10 which are foldable upwardly against opposite sides of the bed and be suitably secured to reduce the lateral dimensions or width of the machine to permit movement or travel thereof through mine passages of usual Width, or, through narrow leads; After the machine has been positioned for cutting and loading operations, the foldab-le sections 10 may be readily lowered to normal horizontal positions.

The most essential feature of the invention is a cutting and gathering receiver held by what may be termed concretely a carrier or arm 12 having a sweeping or swinging operation in the arc of a circle in a horizontal plane. The main body 11 of the receiver is of scoop or shell-like form and has a front opening or inlet 13 and an opposed practically closed rear extremity 14:. The capacity and general contour or shape of this receiver may be modified at will, the only specific requirement in its organization being that it serves as an effective cutting and temporary containing and holding means for coal or other material. The outer or front side 15 of the receiver has the contour of a true are of a circle, and regularly merges into the closed rear extremity 14 which is at angle to said front "side 15. The preferred interior contour of the receiver is shown by Figure 3. though this particular shape is not imperative and may be modified so long as "provision is made for practical retention of cut material therein. The inlet-13 is circular, as shown, and associated therewith is a rotatable annular cutting head or ring 16 having an outer convex surface 17 whichat all times conforms to and regularly continues the arcuate curvature of the outer or front side 15. The outer .slots 18 and secured by the screws 20, the

recesses 17 permitting the screws to be inserted in the shoulders 19 and. easily accessi- .ble for adjustment The teeth 21 may be readily removed and sharpened and reset. or, in the event of breakage, can be replaced by similar teeth. The cutting heads 23 of the teeth 21 are all set to regularly follow around the circular contour of the cutting head or ring 16 so as to have a combined cutting and digging action. The outer side of the head or ring 16 is formed with a circumferential line of teeth or annular driving gear 24 flush with the surface of said head or ring and adapted to be engaged by operating means hereinafter specified for rotating the head or ring at the desired speed. The head or ring 16 is also constructed for removal from and ready application to the inlet end 13 of the receiver 11 and may bereplaced by a similar head or ring. There will be a number of these annular heads orrings 16 supplied. as a part of the equipment of each machine so that when the teeth 21 of one head or ring become dull or broken, the latter head or ring may beremoved for repair and quickly replaced by another head or ring provided with sharp teeth in good working condition to avoid delay in the operation of the machine. One preferred and comparatively simple construction for removably securing the cutting head or ring 16 to the inlet end 13 of the receiver is shown in the drawings and particularly illustrated by Figure 3, and consists in forming the adjacent edges of the head or ring and the receiver with outer circumferential grooves 25 and 26 having bottom angular walls 27 to permit the material of the head or ring and receiver end at this point to have as much thickness as possible and also to produce a good seating structure for a spring steel varied, and one of these reasonable varia-.

tions would be to modify the contour of the heador ring 16 and correspondingly change the contour of the inlet end of the receiver' The cutting head or ring 16'm ust have a clear opening therethrough as all the cut material enters the receiver through said head or ring. Moreover, theinner surface of the head or ring 16 and the inner surface of the receiver must be flush without the least shoulder, projection or obstruction in order to avoid the least retardation of the cut coal or material during its movement into the re ceiver. Furthermore, the outer side of the head or ring 16 and the receiver at the point of jointure of these parts have the requisite arcuate curvature continued regularly from one to the other to provide a surface without interfering projection, and thus allow the receiver and its cutting component to have a clear cutting operation without obstruction relatively to the material operated upon.

From the foregoing it will be seenthat the head or ring 16 is included or comprised in or forms a part of the receiver organization, and this head or ring. has such width as to ermit it to conjointly operate with the main body 11 of the receiver to assist in enclosing and carrying the charges or columns of cut material passing into and through the head or ring directly into the main body of the receiver, a part of each charge or column remaining in the said 'head or ring when the severance of the charge or column is effected relatively to the vein or ledge from which the said charge or column is out. In other words, the head or ring 16 is an extension of and movably held in close endwise jointed association with the main body of the receiver, the head or ring having the cutting means or teeth 21* fixed around the outer edge thereof around the opening therethrough. As hereinbefore specified, theouter and inner surfaces of the main body of the receiver smoothly continue or merge into the f ll ravaaeo similar surfaces of the head or ring 16, the joint between the said head or ring and the main bodv of the receiver being within the planes of the outer and inner surfaces of the head or ring and main body of the receiver to thereby avoid the formation of shoulder projections to permit the receiver as a whole to readily move through the cut portion of the vein and also provide for the unobstructed passage of the cut material into and through the ring or head 16 and main body of the receiver.

The receiver 11 and its head or ring 16 have a segmental cutting action relatively to a vein of coal or other material, and the cut material enters the receiver through the head. the receiver entering the vein of ma terial a distance regulable by the adjustment of the machine, the latter being moved upwardly at intervals towards the vein or mass of material operated upon after the face of the vein or the adjacent portion of the mass of material within practical operating reach of the receiver has been cut or taken up or gathered. Each segmental cut of the receiver and its cutting component is efiected in the arc of a circle and has considerable range, and the length of the swing of the receiver 11 and its arm 12 will de pend on the lateral extent of the vein or mass of material. The receiver organization comprising the main body 11 and closely ointed cutting component or head or ring 16 cleanly gathers up all cut or released material immediately, so that the cutting and gathering and carrying functions of the receiver organization are simultaneously effected without requiring a transfer or separate placement of the cut material subsequent to the release of the latter, or without an interval of delay, as is necessary in those classes of machines wherein the cutting operation is first completed and the transfer or gathering of the out material afterwards effected. The arm 12 and re ceiver are also adjustable vertically to en gage a vein or mass of material at different elevations. One of the main advantages of the improved machine is that in mining coal the latter can be cut andgathered clean of slate or other material that may be detrimental to coal and which under ordinary mining practices requires after pidting or other eliminating methods which materially add to the cost of coal production. By means of the present machine, the coal or other material may be cut above and close to a layer of slate or other objectionable substance, and then cut below and close to the same layer leaving the latter projecting clear for ready removal by breaking it down and then continuing the same operation as long as the layer of objectionable slate or other substance is present to any, extent in the coal or material desired to be cut clean. The inner side 31 of the receiver 11 is open, and is also formed with rear securing extensions 32 which are flared and bolted or otherwise fastened to the opposite sides of the support or arm 12 to hold the said receiver in rigid association with the said support. The operating mechanism for the cutting head 16 of the receiver consists of a pinion 32 in continual mesh with the circumferential or annular driving gear 21, the pinion 32 being fixed on the outer end of a short counter-shaft 33 mounted in a suitable hanger bearing 34 and provided with a beveled pinion 35 on its inner end. A shaft 36 extends along one side of the support or arm 12 and has a beveled pinion 37 on its forward end in continual mesh with the pinion 35. The shaft 36 is mounted in suitable bearing means and is actuated at its rear end through a beveled pinion 38 by mechanism Which will be hereinafter described.

Though the cutter head or ring 16 will be positively driven by the simple mechanism just explained to maintain the requisite degree of rotation thereof, it will be understood that other equivalent operating means may and is intended to be used as desired, the illustration and description of the particular mechanism just referred to being simply an example of one means contemplated to complete an operative mechanical organization to carry out the funct on of the head or ring 16 relatively to the material cut and gathered by the receiver 11. The receiver 11 and support or arm 12 as thus far described may and is intended to be considered a complete mechanism having a certain individual degree of efficiency independent of any other cooperating devices, except means for relieving or conveying the cut coal or other material away from the inner open side 31 of the receiver 11. The means for causing the cut coal or material to be taken away from the inner side of the receiver may be of any preferred type, but in some instances the receiver and its cutting component will be used as a distinct organization, or independently of any other mechanism. A very efficient and simple means for relieving the inner open side of the receiver 11 of cut coal or material consists of an endless conveyer 39 movable longitudinally of the support or arm 12, the latter being provided with opposite flaring sides 40, a bottom 11 of sheet metal and opposite channeled frame beams 42. The conveyer 39 is trained over and driven by a shaft 43 and sprockets 44 at the rear end of the support or arm 12. which, provided with mechanism just explained, constitutes a conveyer frame. The conveyer 39 is also trained over an idler revaaao giving a positive guidance and support to each column entering the receiver prior to separation or breakage of the column to effect a regular operation and obviate choking or stalling the receiver.

The endless cutter or ring 16 will throw out particles and dust during the operation thereof in segmentally cutting the columns, and means are provided for catching and holding these portions of/the material operated upon. This means consists of a segmental guard or hood 61 having an outer flat closing wall 62. The guard or hood 61 is mounted over the rear portion of the inlet extremity of the receiver and directly over the annular cutter head or ring 16 and in the body portion thereof slots 63 are formed and engaged by headed retaining devices or analogous means 64 for loosely attaching the hood to the receiver and permitting a self adjustment of the said hood at different angles on the receiver 11 relatively to the face of the vein of coal or or other material. The pinion 32 projects through the rear arcuate wall 65 of the hood and continually meshes with the teeth 24 of the cutting head or ring 16. When the receiver 11 and the cutting head or ring 16 are caused to operatively engage and segmentally cut the vein of coal or other material, the front edge of the hood 61 is brought into close position relatively to the face of the vein by the upper portion of the hood coming into contact with the adjacent portion of the mine wall or vein and moving the hood as a whole at a proper angle corresponding to the working posi tion of the receiver and its cutting component. .In addition to catching and holding the dust and chips that may be thrown outwardly from the vein by the operation of the cutting head or ring 16, the hood also retains portionsof the disintegrated columns within the receiver and prevents said portions falling outwardly from the inlet or front end of the receiver. It will be understood from the foregoing that practically all of the coal or other material cut moves into and is retained or held by the receiver and the hood and a. clean mining operation results which obviates the neces-. sity of extra labor in gathering up loose mined material from the mine floor. The forward end of the conveyer 39 and the hood 61 are disposed in such position rearwardly on the receiver as to avoid the least interference with the said receiver and its cutting component in entering the vein or ledge of material to the desired and predetermined extent.

The support or arm 12 and the receiver 11 with its cutting head or ring 16 have a fulcrum means and mechanism associated therewith for swinging the said support or arm and receiver in a horizontal path man are of a circle and also for disposing them at different vertical elevations. The preferred fulcrum means comprises a forwardly and upwardly inclined arm 66 movably connected at its rear lower end to the bed 5. The forward upper end of the arm 66 has opposite yoke members 67 pivoted there to and secured at their upper ends to the channeled frame beams 42 of the support 12 or frame of the conveyer 39. The arm 66 provides for freeunited lateral movement of the support 12 and receiver 11 in a horizontal plane, and the pivoted yoke members 67 permit the support 12 and receiver 11 to be raised and lowered to various elevations. The rear pivoted end of the arm 66 is the common center for the horizontal arcuate movement of the support 12 and receiver 11. and from this same center the arcuate contour of the outer or front side of the receiver and its cutting component is defined. Beneath the frame of the support 12 in advance of the yoke members 67 a yoke 68 is disposed in vertical position and to the ends of the arms thereof vertical rack bars 69 are secured and extend upwardly at opposite sides of the support 12, the said rack bars being engaged by guides 7 O pivoted at their upper ends to the opposite sides of the frame of the support 12 to compensate for slight variation of movement of the support and rack bars when adjusted vertically relatively to the true perpendicular position of the rack bars 69. The rack bars 69 and guides 70 are so shaped at their engaging portions that the said bars will always be retained in the guides. The lower terminal or foot of the yoke 68 is slotted as at 71 to form a gear housing 71 for a pinion 72 always held in engagement with the segmental rack 9. the said pinion having a convex periphery to allow for the slight variation of movement of the rack bars 69 from a true perpendicular movement when certain vertical adjust-- ments of the support 12 are made. The pinion 72 is fixed on a longitudinal shaft 73 having bearing in the housing 71. the latter projecting forwardly as at 71 and forming a bearing for a counter shaft 74 and a mounting for a beveled pinion 75 fixed on the shaft 74 and meshing with the pinion 72 on the shaft 73. The one end of the shaft 74 has a hand wheel 76 fixed thereon to provide for ready manual operation of the shaft 74 and eventually the pinion 72 to arcuately shift the support 12 and receiver 11 in opposite arcuate directions. The support 12 and receiver 11 are adjusted vertically by means ofpinions 77 fixed on oppo side ends of a cross shaft 78 mounted in suitable bearings secured to the bottom portion of'the frame of the support 12 and engaging the rack bars 69, the shaft 78 also having a wolm gear 79 thereon with which engages a worm 80 on the rear end of a longitudinal the said shaft 84 and the pinions 83 and 82,

shaft 84 with its worm 80, worm gear 79, shaft 78 and pinions 77 to raise and lower the said support 12 and receiver 11 to any degree desired.

A motor 86 is secured and held adjacent to the bottom portion of the frame of the support 12 just in rear of the location of the shaft 78 and has a shaft 87 provided with a pinion S8 and meshes with a gear 89 on a main motion transmitting shaft 90 which extends through and across the lower por-' tion of the frame of the support 12. Adjacent to the gear 89, the shaft 90 also has thereon a beveled pinion 91 which meshes with the beveled pinion 38 on the rear end of the shaft 36 and whereby the cutter head or ring 16 is positively rotated at the requisite speed. On the end of the shaft 90 opposite that carrying the gear 89 and beveled pinion 91 a sprocket 92 is secured and has a chain belt 93 trained thereover and over one of the sprockets 44 on the shaft 43 and whereby the latter shaft and the conveyer 39 are driven at a requisite speed in the proper direction.

The complete machine also includes in its complement as a convenient auxiliary mean for the loading operation, an intermediate receiving hopper 94 securely held on the bed 5 at the rear by connecting braces 95. The front inclined side of this hopper 94 is clear for unrestricted operation of the fulcrum arm 66, and over the front top portion of said hopper the rear end of the support 12 and its conveyer 39 extend a suitable distance to deliver the coal or other material into the hopper. Extending downwardly over the rear inclined side of the hopper 94 to the lower reduced center of the bottom thereof is a conveyer 96 which continues rearwardly any suitable distance beyond or in rear of the said hopper and bed and held by a suitable frame 97 in the form of a rear overhanging structure. The conveyer 96 will be provided with a suitable front idler shaft 98 and a rear driving shaft 99 and usual equipments including a sprocket 100 on the rear shaft 99, and over this sprocket an endless chain belt 101 is trained and passes forwardly andin part engages a guide sprocket 102 and in part an auxiliary driving sprocket 103 on a shaft 104 located at the point where the conveyer 96 starts to move downwardly into the hopper for obvious and necessary driving reasons. The belt 101 is then extended to and is trained over a sprocket 105 on one end of a shaft 106 of a motor 107 which i secured on the bed 5 in rear of the hopper 94. This independent motor 107 indicates that the conveyer may be started and stopped as desired or may remain inactive for any period of time found necessary. One object of the control of the operation of the conveyer 96 is to permit cars to be successively disposed ad acent to and under the rear overhanging portion of the frame 97 and the said conveyer to transfer the coal or material deposited in the hopper 94 to the cars, and when one car is loaded and removed it is replaced by an empty car and thereby expeditiously carry on t e mining operation. Vhen a loaded car is removed from the rear of the machine, the motor 107 is stopped and as a consequence the conveyer 96 will cease to move and the coal or other material will not be delivered from the hopper. During the interval required to remove a loaded car from the rear of the conveyer 96 and its frame 97 and replacement by an empty car, the coal or other material is continuously deposited in the hopper 94 by the conveyer 39 and consequently the operation of the receiver 11 and its cutting component may regularly proceed without interruption.

What is claimed is 1. A machine of the class specified, comprising enclosing receiving means having an open cutter mounted directly thereon and forming a part thereof, the'cutter and receiving means being movably operable as a unit inv an arcuate path and also vertically adjustable to different elevations for simultaneously cutting and gathering and carrying material from the face of a vein, the material being passed into the cutter and receiving means which conjointly operate to serve as a carrying means for the cut material. the material entering the cutter and receiving means in close columnar accumulations, means for breaking thecolumnar accumulations after they have passed into the cutter and receiving means, and means for conveying the material away from the cutter and receiving means.

2. A coal cutting mechanism comprising tubular receiving means having an open cutting component movably associated with an open end thereof, the receiving means and its cutting component being operable as a unit in an arcuate path for simultaneously cutting coal from the face of a vein in the shape of segmental columns and causing the latter to pass into the cutting component and receiver and temporarily adhering to the vein until fractured and separated therefrom, and meansfor breaking the successive columns of coal in the component and tubular receiver from the vein operated upon by the mechanism. l

3. A coal cutting mechanism comprising tubular receiving means having an open movable cutting component forming a part thereof, the receiving means and its cutting component being operative as a unit in an arcuate path and also vertically to different elevations and also simultaneously operable for cutting from the face of a vein and gathering and retaining the cut coal at'intervals therein in close columnar accumulations which temporarily adhere to the vein, means for breaking the columnar accumulations from the vein, and means for conveying the loose coal away from the receiving means.

4. A coal cutting machine of the class.

specified comprising a tubular receive-r means having an open inlet end provided With a cutting means movable around the inlet, the cutting means being open to permit cut material to pass therethrough, the re ceiver and its cutting means being operable as a unit in an arcuate path for cutting coal or other material from the face of a vein or l'edge and retaining the cut coal or other material therein in bulk accumulations, and means for relieving the receiver of the accumulations of cut material therein.

5. A coal cutting mechanism comprising a tubular receiver with an open" inlet end and an outer arcuate wall, a. cutter associated with and forming 'a part of and movable around the inlet end of thereceiver and open to the interior of the receiver, the receiver and cutter being mounted to swing as a unit in the arc of a circle for cutting coal or other material from the face of a vein to effect a passage of the cut coal or other material at intervi s into the receiver, and means for effecting a release of the accumulations of coal or material in the receiver from the vein.

6. A machine of the class specified comprising a tubular receiver in Which cut material collects and is retained at intervals, said receiver havin a closed front side and an inlet at one en the receiver having an annular rotary cutter at the inlet end thereof for cutting material from the face of a vein in columns which pass into the cutter and receiver, means for loosening the cut columns in the receiver, and means for conveying the cut material away from the receiver.

7. A machine of the class specified comprising a tubular receiver provided with an inlet at one end and a movable cutter at said inlet end of the receiver and through which the cut material also passes, and a support for the receiver having a swinging movement in the are of a circle and. also adjustable vertically, the receiver having an outer curved side correspondingin degree of curvature to the arc through which the receiver and'support have swinging move ment and the cutter also having an outer curved surface which is a C(llltllltliltlOIlUf the same arc as'the outer side of the re closed side of curved contour and an annular rotarycutter at the inlet end thereof through which the cut material passes into the receiver,v the rear side of the receiver being open, and means iirrear of the receiver onto which th'ecut material is discharged.

prising a tubular receiver having an inlet opening at one end and closed at the oppo 9. A machine of the class specified com I site end and at the front side and provided with an outlet at the rear and a movable cutter associated with the inlet end thereof,

an oscillating breaker having a portion thereof movable into the receiver. and conveying means to which the material from the outlet of the receiver-is discharged.

10. A machine of the class specified comprising a tubular receiver having an inlet opening at one end and the opposite end practically closed. the receiver also having a front closed side and rear outlet side and a cutter movably associated .with the inlet end thereof, conveying means to which the material from the receiver is discharged, and a self-adjusting guard hood over a portion of the cutter and inlet end of the receiver. I

11. A machine of theclass specified comprising a tubular receiver having an inlet at one end with an'open cutter movable therearound and'through which the cut material passes into the receiver, and a guard hood mounted. for self-adjustment on they part remaining in the cutting means in columnar form, the column in the cutting means and receiver remainii'ig connected with the vein from which it is cut. and means carried by thereceiver for breaking and separating the column in, the cutting means and receiver from the vein.

13. A machine of the class specified hav ing a swinging receiver with cutting means associated therewith and operable to cut material from a vein or ledge. in successive columnar form, the columns projecting into the cutting means and receiver and remaining successively in connection with the material of the vein or ledge, and breaking at one end and an outlet at the rear side,

the lower wall at the rear outlet extending rearwardly a greater distance than the upper'wall thereof, and a support for the receiver embodying a conveyer movable under and beyond the said lower wall of the outlet.

15. A coal cutting machine comprising a,

laterally swinging and .vertically movable conveyer having a tubular receiver-carried on the front extremity thereof and provided with cutting means movable thereon and forming a part of the receiver, the cutting component and receiver being operable to cut the charges of material and cause the cut material to be passed directly through the cutting means into the receiver and to be carried inl part by both the cuttin means and receiver, the cut'material being discharged from the receiver and cutting means to /the conveyer by the successive charges entering the cutting means and receiver.

16. A coal cutting machine comprising a conveyer mounted to swing horizontally and also move vertically and carrying at one extremity a tubular receiver with an open inlet end provided with cutting means movable therearound and forming a part of the receiver organization, whereby cut coal will be immediately @thered up and carried within the receiver and cutting means and from the latter directly discharged to the conveyer by the successive charges of coal entering the receiver.

17. A machine of the class specified comprising a horizontally swinging enclosing receiver having a forward inlet end and a lateral discharge opening, an open cuttin component mounted on the said forwar inlet end of the receiver and arranged in close continuous organization therewith, the receiver and cutting component being movable as a unit into and lengthwise through a vein in the arc of a circle and simultaneously operable to cut and gather and carry cut material from the vein and provided with means for disposing the same above and below or in a horizontal plane and to discharge the materialtherefrom during the cutting operation.

18. A machine of the class specified, comprising a horizontally swinging enclosing receiver having a forward inlet end with a cuttin component directly mounted on and movab e therearound to provide receiver and disposing the unitary receiver and cutting means below a horizontal plane and continuously carrying away the cut material from the receiver and cutting means.

19. A machine of the class specified, comprising a conveyor mounted to swing laterally in opposite directions above and below and in a horizontal plane and having an enclosing receiver fixed to the outer end thereof at an angle thereto, the receiver being formed with. an open forward end having a cutter mounted thereon and movable therearound and the receiver and cutter also movable as a unit into and lengthwise through a vein.

20. A machine of the class specified, comprising a laterally swinging upwardly and downwardly adjustable supporting means provided with conveying mechanism, and a material carrying receiver having an inlet opening at one end and fixed to the outer end of the supporting means, the material carrying receiver having a cutting component mounted around the inlet end and uniformly swinging therewith lengthwise of the material cut, the cutting component and receiver instantly gathering and carrying the cut material in bulk as said material is released and the gathered material discharged therefrom to the convey ing mechanism by the successive charges of cut material passing through and into said receiver and cutting component.

21. A machine of the class specified, comprising an enclosing body open solely at one end and along the inner side and a cutting extension closely jointed to said open end and movable around the latter, the body and extension jointly serving as a receiver and actuated as a unit in an arcuate path and as a whole entering and movable lengthwise through the material cut, and means for effecting a horizontal swinging operation of the combined receiver and cutting extension for simultaneously cutting and gathering material as cut and retaining the cut material therein at intervals in bulk charges and discharging the material from the inner side thereof by the successive charges passed thereinto during the unitary movement of the receiver and cutting extension.

22. A machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver having an inlet opening at its forward end and closed at the opposite end, the receiver also having its outer side closed and a discharge opening at its inner side, and a support mounted to laterally swing in opposite directions and also movable above and below a. horizontal plane and having the receiver fixed on the outer extremity thereof, the cut material accumulating in the receiver being discharged from the inner side of the latter to the support to relieve the receiver of the cut material irrespective of the position of the receiver above, below or at a horizontal plane.

23. A machine of the class specified, comprising atubular receiver having cutting means operating therewith, and a conveying means having the receiver fixed to the outer extremity thereof, the conveying means being provided with means for swinging the same lengthwise of the material to be cut and also for adjustment above and below or at a horizontal plane and having the tubular receiver fixed to the outer end thereof, the successive charges of bulk material entering the receiver forcing out the preceding charges therefrom to the conveying means.

24. A machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver having an inlet opening at the forward end thereof and a cutting means mounted on and movable around said open end, the cut material being free to pass through the cutting means into the receiver, a horizontally swinging supporthaving the receiver fixed on the outer end thereof and disposed at an angle thereto, and mechanism independently operable for controlling the horizontal swinging movement of the support and receiver as a unit and also the variation in the elevation thereof to dispose the same above and below and at a horizontal plane.

25. A machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver having an inlet opening at one end and cutting means movable around the said end, and means for moving the receiver and cutting means as a unit lengthwise of the material to be cut above and below and at a horizontal plane, the receiver and its cutting means also having conveying mechanism cooperating therewith for carrying the material away therefrom when the receiver and cutting means are below, at or above a horizontal plane.

26. A machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver with a forward fully open inlet end having a fully open cutting component carried by and operable around said inlet end and having a continuous close association with the latter, and mechanism for supporting and operating said receiver and cutting component. to unitedly enter and move lengthwise of and through the material cut and for adjustment of the receiver above, be ow and in a horizontal plane and to receive and carry away the cut material passed into the receiver and component from the latter when below, above and in a horizontal plane.

27. A machine of the class specified, comprising a receiver. a cutting component on one end of the receiver, the receiver and cutting component always having a continuous close association and unitcdlv serving to cut and carry the cut material. and means for supporting the united receiver and cutting component in fixed relation thereto and for unitedly always ho ding and swinging the said receiver and cutting component, in a horizontal plane or lengtlnvise of the material cut.

28. A machine of the class specified, comprising a support mounted to swing longitudinally and in a horizontal plane relatively to a wall of materiai. the support also being adjustable below, above and in a horizontal plane relatively to said wall of material, and a receiver having an open end with a cutting component mounted thereon and movable therearound. the receiver and cutting component being fixed to the outer end of the support and always having the same operative relation to the latter, the support being provided with means for discharging and e evating the material from the receiver and cutting component when the latter are unitedly below a horizontal plane.

29. A machine of the class specified, comprising a support mounted to move lengthwise relatively to a wall of material. the support also being adjustable to elevations below, above and in a horizontal plane, and a combined receiver and cutting component for cutting and accumulating material therein fixed to the outer end of the support and operating to discharge the contents thereof into the latter, the support having devices movable at an angle to the receiver and cutting component for conveying the material cut and gathered away from the receiver and cutting component.

30. A machine of the class specified, comprising a support mounted to swing lengthwise relatively to a wall of material, the support also being adjustable belpw, above and in a horizontal plane and having conveying means movable longitudinally thereof, and a combined receiver and cutting component having close association and fixed to the outer end of the support and always movable with the latter lengthwise relatively to a wall of material cut and operating to cut material by unitedly penetrating the wall and regularly accumulating cut material therein, the accumulated cut material being carried away from a portion of the combined receiver and cutting component irrespective of the elevation of the latter.

31. A machine of the class specified, comprising a support mounted to swing in a horizontal plane at different elevations and lengthwise relatively to a wall of material. a tubular receiver having an inlet at one end with a cutting component mounted and movable around said end, the combined re ceiver and cutting component being fixed to the outer end of the support and uniformly movable with the latter. and con In testimony whereof I have hereunto set veying means movable lengthwise of the my hand in presence of two subscribing support atbriglt angles to tlhe disposition wltnesses.

of the com ine receiver ant cutting com- 5 ponent relatively to said support for dis FRANCIS KEITH HODMESTED' charging the said receiver and cutting com- Witnesses: ponent lrrespective of the elevation of the CHAS. S. HYER, latter. CHAS. R. CULLIGAN. 

